Dictionary
cor•ner•stone
Pronunciation: (kôr'nur-stōn"), [key]—
n.
1. a stone uniting two masonry walls at an intersection.
2. a stone representing the nominal starting place in the construction of a monumental building, usually carved with the date and laid with appropriate ceremonies.
3. something that is essential, indispensable, or basic:
The cornerstone of democratic government is a free press.
4. the chief foundation on which something is constructed or developed:
The cornerstone of his argument was that all people are created equal. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.